Brewers edge Dodgers

Apr 18, 2012 - 4:06 AM
Milwaukee, WI (Sports Network) - Pinch-hitter George Kottaras stroked a two-
run double with one out in the bottom of the ninth inning and Mat Gamel made
a nifty slide at the plate to give Milwaukee a dramatic 5-4 win over
the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Corey Hart singled and pinch-runner Carlos Gomez stole second base to start
the ninth. Gamel, who also belted his first homer since 2009, then walked.
Jonathan Lucroy struck out, but Kottaras then laced a hit to the gap in right-
center field off Javy Guerra (1-1).

The relay throw to the plate was on line, but the swipe tag by A.J. Ellis
barely missed as Gamel slid in safely by using his left hand to tag the plate,
sending off an on-field celebration to cap the opener of this three-game
series. It also snapped LA's six-game winning streak.

"It's a tough one to lose. I thought Guerra's stuff was fine," Dodgers manager
Don Mattingly said. "He just left the last one up."

The Brewers snapped a four-game skid and sent the Dodgers to only their second
loss in 11 games this season. Andre Ethier belted a two-run homer in defeat.

Yovani Gallardo struck out seven over seven innings for the Brewers, while
Dodgers starter Chad Billingsley lasted six frames. Jose Veras (1-0) got the
win for retiring the side in order in the top of the ninth.

It was a wild final three innings. Loney doubled in Ethier in the seventh to
tie the game, but the Brewers went ahead 3-2 in the bottom half when pinch-
hitter Norichika Aoki recorded his first major league RBI on a perfectly-
executed squeeze bunt. The tapper back toward the mound scored Gamel, as the
out was recorded at first base.

Matt Kemp then made a nifty over-the-shoulder catch in front of the center
field wall on a ball hit by Rickie Weeks to end the seventh.

The Dodgers, though, went back in front the following inning against Francisco
Rodriguez. With Mark Ellis aboard on a single, Ethier slammed a ball over the
wall in center.